Ironing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. P. STONE.

IRONING MACHINE.

No. 437,804. Patented 001;. 7, 1890.

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(No Model.)

0. P. STONE.

IRONING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. '7, 1890.

UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. STONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

lRONING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,804, dated October 7, 1890.

' Application filed September 24, 1889. Serial No. 324,896- (IIo n'iodel.)

To all whom to may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. STONE, of Chicago, in the count-y of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-llIac-hines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing-machines, particularly such as are designed and adapted for ironing and smoothing shirt-bosoms, and hence are called shirtmachines, although it is obvious it may be employed to advantage in ironing other articles of apparel.such as collars,cuffs, the.- without material alteration, the object of the invention being to produce an exceedingly simple and efficient machine at which the operator may remain seated while working, and which will require a minimum amount of labor on her part to reverse the direction of movement of the ironing-table or to change the degree of pressure exerted by the ironing-roll.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in an ironing-machine having an ironing-table, an ironing-roller above and a roller below the table, with a mechanism for tilting thetable to give the desired pressure secondly, it consists in. an ironing-machine having an ironing-roller and ironing-table mounted on a pivotal support passing beneath the roller and a driving-roller beneath said table, with means for imparting a rotary reciprocatory movement to said driving-roller; thirdly, it consists in providing a machine of the character specified with a movable fulcrum for the table-support,whereby the degree of pressure exerted on the table may be varied; fourthly, it consists in an ironing-machine having a table mounted on a pivotal support and in which the forward movement of the table carries the same away from its driving mechanism to enable the operator to easily place the article to be ironed in position while the table is still and then throw the table into engagement with itsoperatin g mechanism by a slight backward movement of the same, and, finally, it consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, to be hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the frame-work being broken away to show clearly the operative parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the center of the machine, looking toward the left-hand side. Fig. 3 isa front elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the ironing-roller. Fig. 6 is a detail of rod 7L3 and its spring.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The frame of the machine is preferably rectangular in shape, and consists of the side pieces A A, having end cross-pieces and intermediate cross-pieces B, said frames A A being connected by the cross-pieces C at top and bottom.

On the tops of the side pieces and near the forward ends are mounted bearings D, preferably of a construction to be presently described, in which is journaled the ironingroller E, having on its end outside the bearing a gear-Wheel E, meshing with a gear-wheel F on the drive-shaft G. The gear-wheel F and drive-shaft are driven by means of suitable belting on a counter-shaft, passing over a suitable pulley II, rigidly secured to a shaft H which latter is in gear with the wheel F.

Mounted loosely on the shaft 11 and on each side of the pulley H, are the idler-pulleys H H, adapted to accommodate belts running in opposite directions, either of which may be shifted to the central pulley, thus enabling the drive-shaft G to be run in either direction.

The drive-shaft is, as will be seen,located below the ironing-roller and, preferably, slightly in rear of the same, and on the drive-shaft is mounted a driving-roller or driving rollers or pulleys G with a space between the same, which in effect constitutes a divided roller, said roller or rollers being covered with leather or similar substance adapted to give a good frictional bearing against the smooth bearingsurface.

At the bottom of the frame is journaled a shaft- H, having at substantially the center an upwardly-extending arm I, on the upper end of which is mounted the ironing-table having a curved surface K, curved to conform to an arc of a circle with a radius equal to-the distance between the pivotal point of the shaft H and the circumference of the roll. Thus when said table and shaft are reciprocated the table will bear at all times against the roll with equal pressure; The table, it will be seen, passes between the ironing and drive rollers, and its under side is provided with a bearing-surface K, parallel throughout to the surface of the ironing-table, which surface K rests upon the driving roller or rollers G from which motion is derived.

In order now to enable the pressure exerted on the table to be kept constant when the thickness of the padding on the table is changed, or to enable the degree of pressure to be varied easily at any time, itis only necessary to provide a mechanism whereby the table may be tilted to cause it to bind between the rolls, and although this may beaccomplished in different ways the preferred methodconsists in rendering the pivotal point of the shaft H movable, whereby it may be changed, thus causing the table to tilt and bind more or less between the ironingroller and driving-roller, as will be readily understood. -In addition to such arrangement, either of said rollers may be adjusted in the well-known manner. The first method of increasing the pressure is preferred, and in order to accomplish the desired end in a convenient manner the shaft H is mounted in bearings in the blocks H, adapted to be moved toward the front or rear in ways or tracks H preferably formed in the arc of a circle, with a center at about the bearingpoint of the roller G and to said blocks 11 are connected links h, engaging arms h on the shaft 7L2 at the rear of the machine, said shaft being rotated through the medium of the screw-threaded rod 77, extending up into convenient position for the operators hand at the front of the machine and provided with a spring 77, which permits said rod to give backward and the blocks H to move in the same direction should any unusual thickness of material or other obstruction be on the table, which would stop the machine unless it moved downward a slight distance. In the detail View, Fig. .7, is shown a form of device which may be employed topermit the rod 71 to give. The spring 71 abuts against the guide or bracket f at one end and against v the collar and hand-wheel f, mounted on the rod 71 Arm I is connected to the bearing-surface K at substantially the centerof the rear end by means of bolts or otherwise, and immediately in rear of the said surface is carried or curved backward a short distance, in order to permit the surface to pass beyond the driving-roller, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus arrest the movement of the table, in order to permit of the removal of an ironed shirt or the placing of an unironed one in position.

. It is obvious that a single driving-roller, in-

stead of a divided roller, may be employed, and the arm I secured to the top of the surface K and curved back far enough to escape said roller; but it is preferably con nected to the under side of the surface K, as shown, and curved or bent back but a short distance, and instead of a single drivingroller two driving-rollers are, as before stated, preferably employed, between which the arm I passes when at the forward extreme of its movement, the slight curvature permittingit to pass over the drive-shaft and the surface K to pass beyond the driving-roller in the manner before pointed out.

- The ironing-surface K and the bearing-surface K are slightly separated from each other and connected by'suitable braces K at the center, in order to permit the shirt to be drawn up over the ironingsurface with the collarband in position to enter the cut-out portion 70.

The shirt is held in position by means of clamps r o which in turn are supported bya connecting-bar R, pivoted to the braces and operated by a link S, crank-shaft S, and handle S although other well -known, and equivalent means may be employed.

The ironing-roller E is hollow and driven at a slightly-greater speed than the ironingtable, as usual; but instead of being perfectly smooth and polished the surface is provided with small indentations, forming pockets or passages, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) which, while they occupy a small proportion of the entire surface, serve to smooth down and polish the surface more effectually than smooth rolls. This good result is due, according to my present theory, to the fact that the pockets receive the steam which is necessarily generated in the goods by the hot roller and either carries it out or permits it to escape, thus insuring an intimate contact between the roll and the entire surface to be ironed, a further beneficial effect of course being derived from the passage of numerous small surfaces over the goods, which, as is well known, will give'a better effect than a single large smooth surface.

It is obvious that other forms of pockets or indentations may be employed instead of those shown without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Ironing-roller E is heated by means of any of the well-known appliances adapted for this purpose, such as a series of gas-jets fed by a gas-pipe T and an air-pipe T.

The belts, as before mentioned, run in opposite directions, being adapted to be shifted onto the central pulleys h, and in order to enable this shifting operation to be easily performed by the operator or automatically by the-machine a shaft M is pivoted in bearings N, mount-ed on the right-hand side of the machine, and on the rear end of this shaft is rigidly secured the arm M, to which the beltshifter M is connected. Thus when the shaft is moved through the medium of the crankarm 0 on its forward end and rod and treadle O respectively, the belts will be shifted to the desired position and the table caused to move in one direction or the other beneath the ironing-roller.

In order to accomplish the shifting operation automatically, the shaft H is provided with an arm P, to the end of which is connected a rod P, passing loosely through an arm P on the rear end of the shaft M, as shown in Fig. 1, said rod P" being provided with suitable adjustable stops p p for shifting said arm when the table has reached each extreme of its movement. The preferred form of stop or shifting but-ton on the rod consists of a loose collar p held in position by a spiral spring surrounding the rod and adjustably connected thereto at the other end by means of a collar 13, which may be either screwed onto the rod or held thereon by a set-screw, as shown. Thus it will be seen that by making the buttons adjustable the shifting operation may be made to take place at any point in the movement of the table and the table prevented from moving off the driving-roller and coming to rest in front of the operator.

When it is desired, the operator may shift the belts by means of the treadle before the table has reached the stopping-point, and the automatic shifting mechanism be so adjusted as to cause the reverse at the rear extreme of its movementa method of operation at once extremely practical and efficient and involving a minimum amount of labor on the part of the operator.

Any well known clutch mechanism for changing the direction of rotation of the driveshaft may be interposed in the connections in lieu of the belt-shifting mechanism; but the latter is preferred inasmuch as clutches are liable to fail in their operation. 1 When in operation, the ironing-table is cov ered with a suitable packing or covering,which may be held in place by the pins or sharpened projections If on the under side of the table adjacent to the edges, and as a safeguard against soiling the clothes by contact with the machinery below the table guards Z are provided at each side, attached at the inner edges to the top of the bearing-surface K and curved outward and upward, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation will now be readily understood, and is as follows: Assuming that a shirt is in position and the table at rest in front of the operator, who is seated, and the drivingroller rotating backward, it is only necessary to move the table a short distance backward, when the roller will engage the bearing-surface and carry the table back until the beltshifter is operated and the direction of movement changed, causing the table to return toward the front. If desired, the table may be permitted to pass beyond the roller and again come to rest; but, assuming that the ironing operation is not completed, it is only necessary for her to shift the belt by means of the treadle just before the table passes off the driving-roller. Should it pass off, the automatic shifting mechanism is preferably arranged to operate at the moment the table leaves thev driving-roller, thus causing the roller to revolve in the proper direction to move the table back without eifort on the part of the operator.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new is 1. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller, of the curved ironingtable mounted on a pivoted support and adapted to reciprocate beneath the ironingroller in an arc of a circle, and the roller bearing against the under side of the table, sub- 'stantially as described.

2. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller, of the adjustable curved ironing-table mounted on a pivotal support to reciprocate in the arc of a circle, and the roller bearing against the under side of the table, substantially as described.

3. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-table, of an ironing-roller above and a roller beneath the same, and tilting mechanism for moving the table and causing said table to bind between the rollers, substantially as described.

4. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-table, of an ironing-roller above and a roller beneath the same, and a spring-pressed tilting mechanism for moving the table and causing said table to bind between the rollers, substantially as described.

5. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller, of the curved ironingtable, and the support therefor pivoted in laterally-movable bearings, substantially as described.

6. In an ironing machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller, of the ironing-table, the support therefor pivoted in laterally-movable bearings, and the roller bearing on the under side of the table, substantially as described.

7. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller and table mounted on a support pivoted in movable bearings, of the roller pivoted in bearings out of line with the ironing-roller and bearings for the pivotal support, whereby when the pivotal support is moved the table will be caused to bind to give a greater pressure, substantially as described.

8. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing roller and curved table mounted rigidly on a support pivoted in laterally-movable bearings, of the spring for holding said support in normal position and permitting it to give when an unusual thickness of material or other obstruction is placed on the table, substantially as described.

9. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller, the table mounted on a support pivoted in movable bearings, and the roller bearing against the under side of the table, of the spring for preventing the movement of said bearings, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the ironing-roller and drive-shaft carrying the drive-roller, of the ironing-table passing between said rollers and the pivotal support for said table, extending in the rear of the same, whereby the table is permitted to move beyond the d riving-roller, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the iron ing-roller and drive-roller, of the ironing-table passing between said rollers and the support for said table, pivoted in movable bearings and extending in rear of the table, whereby the table is permitted to move forward of the driving" roller, substantially as described.

12. I11 an ironing-1'nachiue, the combination, with the divided drive-roller, the ironing-roll, and the table passing between said ironing and drive rollers, of the pivotal support connected to the table and passing between the drive-rollers, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the ironing-roller, the ironing-table mounted on a pivotal support, and the driving-roller beneath the table, of the shifting mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation of said driving-roller operated by the pivotal support, substantially as described.

14. The combinatiomwith the ironing-roller, drive-roller, and table mounted on a pivotal support and passing between said rollers, of the arm connected to said pivotal support, and a shifting mechanism operated by said arm to reverse the direction of rotation of the driving-roller, substantially as described.

15. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller, drivingroller, beltpulley shaft gearing therewith, and table anounted on a pivotal support and passing 16. In an ironing-machine,the combination,

with ironing-roller, drive-roller, and ironingtable reciprocating between said rollers and passing forward out of engagement therewith, of a reversing mechanism for changing the direction of rotation of the d rivingroller, hav: ing stopsfor moving said reversing mechanism, and connections between said stops and table, said stops being so adjusted as that the roll is reversed before the table reaches the extreme of its rearward movement and after the table passes beyond thedrive-roller in its forward movement, substantially as described.

17. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing-roller and drive-roller beneath the same, cf the ironing-table mounted on a pivotal support and having the curved ironing-surface at the top, with the bearingsurface at the bottom parallel therewith, sub

stantially as described.

18. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the ironing -rollor and ironing-table mounted on a pivotal support, with the parallel ironing and'bearing surfaces, of the driving-roller below the bearing-s11 rface and in rear of the ironing-roller, substantially as described.

CHARLES F. STONE.

IVitnesses:

RICHARD J, STONE, RICHARD R. WALSH. 

